Exhibition
The Palace of Typographic Masonry
22 February – 11 May 2025
The Palace of Typographic Masonry provided a multi-layered insight into the creative discipline of graphic design: From the fundamentals of the trade and their interplay in compositions and designs to tools, techniques, and conceptual approaches to the professional practice in the shifting sphere of space, time, clients and audiences.
This travelling exhibition by the Dutch graphic designer Richard Niessen showcased graphic design as a poetic and visual force with the ability to shape culture and channel political messages to convey social values and ideals. Richard Niessen reflected on his professional practice by collecting and describing visual artefacts from a wide range of cultures and times. The resulting thematic constellations produced surprisingly new layers of meaning. He also regurlarly invited designers to expand his collection with visual comments.
The exhibition showed contributions by Juan Luis Blanco, Benjamin Mc Millan, Edgar Walthert, Victoria Hoogstoël, Bart de Baets, Team Thursday, Rietlanden Women’s Office, Alex Walker, Cleo Tsw, Lukas Engelhart, Jan Egbers, Justus Gelberg, Richard Niessen, Esther de Vries, Meeus ontwerpt, Harmen Liemburg, Studio Moniker, Rudy Guedj, Joost Grootens, Hackers & Designers, Farah Fayyad, Ott Metusula, William Jacobson, Metahaven, Maureen Mooren and fanfare.
Intelligent minimalism and playfulness characterised the scenography Richard Niessen designed for the exhibition, thus making it the epitome of Dutch graphic design. The Palace of Typographic Masonry was an infinite, imaginary structure he built to represent the variety of visual cultures. Its ever-evolving rooms, wings, corridors, and chambers produced a discursive space which disrupted linear chronologies and opened new perspectives.
Curator: Jonas Deuter
Project partner:
